From Christopher Raeburn to JS Lee and Joshua Kane, Yorkshire-based premium woollen mill AW Hainsworth is a proud supporter of emerging fashion designers.

The specialist textiles company’s latest collaboration is with British menswear designer Alex Mullins, whose bold, colourful collections offer a strong message about sustainable fashion and handcrafted workwear.

Alex graduated from Central Saint Martins in 2012 and has been building a relationship with the textiles mill since then, selecting cloth for his collections and sampling numerous textiles. AW Hainsworth has collaborated with him to create a bespoke blanket fabric for his A/W19 collection, which featured at London Men’s Fashion Week on 6 January.

Lightweight yet durable

Alex has created three panelled coats using the bespoke Duffle blanket fabric from AW Hainsworth, a textured blanket fabric, which complements Alex’s hand-crafted style and love of experimenting with classic shapes in playful ways.

A blend of Merino wool and nylon, this lightweight yet durable fabric is perfect for Alex’s aesthetic and offers the opportunity for him to showcase his talent for creating clothing that transcends gender and stands as a statement to great British design and production.

“I have worked with AW Hainsworth right from the beginning of my career as a designer, for my Graduation Show, visiting the mill and hand selecting cloth. They produce a quality product that I now trust and have such a fantastic range of iconic colours,” said Alex Mullins. “I believe AW Hainsworth are enablers who genuinely want to work with students and help the next generation of designers which is so important – providing a high-quality product that is also affordable when you’re starting out is integral to success.”

Design and sustainability

“With the trend for a return to craftsmanship in design and sustainability, it’s fantastic to see Alex Mullins using our Duffle fabric in his new collection. We believe it’s the ideal choice for the designer seeking pure excellence, true colours and a heritage textile that can be woven into beautiful, everlasting garments that always retain their shape,” commented Julie Greenough, Marketing Manager at AW Hainsworth.

“We have recently seen a demand from both emerging and established designers requesting hard-wearing blanket fabrics in their collections. High-performance fabrics are being taken seriously, as sustainability is rising up the agenda for consumers and the world of fashion is taking note of the ever-evolving industry and planet.”

“We are strong supporters of the incredibly talented young textile and fashion students emerging in the UK and our work with them. This shows in the loyalty of our customers who trust us for our passionate commitment to excellence at every stage.”

www.hainsworth.co.uk